Rip Current Flow Channel for Surf Pool Wave Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surf pools face challenges in controlling wave energy and reducing rip currents, leading to unsuitable wave conditions for surfing due to wave-driven currents, which affect surfability parameters like breaker height, peel angle, and breaker shape, resulting in irregular and unsurfable waves.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rip current flow channel in the middle of the artificial surf reef to minimize rip currents through the breakers, with strategic placement of flow channels to redirect and circulate rip currents, maintaining equilibrium and improving surfability by reducing wave interference and distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If wave energy is increased to improve surfing conditions, then wave height and power increase, but wave shape distortion and rip current strength worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful rip current component from the wave system by installing a rip current removal device that selectively eliminates onshore-directed currents while preserving the beneficial wave energy and shape for surfing
Solution Approach 2:
The rip current removal device acts as an intermediary element between the wave generator and the water surface, mediating the wave energy transmission while filtering out harmful rip currents to maintain clean wave shapes
2Power
If wave height is increased to improve surfability, then wave power increases, but rip current strength increases making conditions dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of strong rip currents into a beneficial feature by using the rip current removal device to eliminate these dangerous currents while preserving the high wave power needed for good surfing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The rip current removal device extracts and removes the harmful rip current component from the high-power wave system, allowing surfers to enjoy powerful waves without the dangerous accompanying rip currents
3Productivity
If wave frequency is increased to improve surfing conditions, then wave energy increases, but wave shape distortion increases reducing surfability
Solution Approach 1:
The rip current removal device serves as an intermediary that filters out disruptive water movements caused by high-frequency waves, allowing the wave generator to produce high-energy waves without the accompanying shape distortion that would reduce surfability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively decreases rip current strength by approximately 40%, enhancing surfability by stabilizing wave-driven currents and maintaining wave quality, resulting in more consistent and surfable wave conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The pool has a wave generator that creates waves
Implementation Method 2
strategic placement of flow channels to redirect and circulate rip currents, maintaining equilibrium
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a Surf Pool wherein a portion of the beach is provided with a wave catch basin. With the wave catch basin extending along the length of the beach, the wave catch basin will allow water to go over an infinity edge and settle in the wave catch basin, wherein wave energy backflows are eliminated and rip currents are avoided. With the wave catch basin extending along the beach side of the surf pool, the water that is collected in the wave catch basin and by pumping water out of pipe fittings or creating positive suction into pipe fittings, alters the flow of the rip current, thereby altering the wave formation characteristics. As the rip currents enter the rip current flow channels on both sides of the surfing reef, water can be suctioned down through return pipes or pumped in any direction along the surf pool bottom to stop the rip currents in the rip current flow channels, which helps the breaking waves from becoming distorted as they break.